Hi everyone. My name is Jun and I'm a new contributor to this blog.
The recent Independence Day celebration and the observance of the 148th birth anniversary of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, have set me in the right mood to do what I have been meaning to do for some time now...to renew my acquaintance with the Noli Me Tangere. It is the first of two novels written by Dr. Rizal, the second being the El Filibusterismo. It was published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany.
Most Filipinos are familiar with the Noli since it is required reading in high school. But sad to say, most Pinoys, myself included, tend to take it for granted and not give it the proper attention it deserves. Maybe it is because of the way it was presented to us by our teachers or maybe it's because most of us see it as just another academic requirement we needed to fulfill to graduate. And this is why I resolved to take a second, much closer look at the Noli, and I have to admit that I was surprised to find myself thoroughly enjoying the book.
The novel, as Rizal biographer Austin Coates said, was not written as literature but was meant to be political. And it sent such a very powerful political message that it instantly earned for Rizal many enemies in high places, not only in government but more so among the Spanish clergy. It also served as a catalyst for the revolution that took place later in 1898. The book depicted the excesses of the Spanish clergy, the corruption in government, the economic inequity between the rich and the poor, grave social injustices and other ills prevalent in 19th century Philippines. What is astonishing is the fact that most of what troubled the Filipinos back then are still troubling our society now. Well , except maybe for the fact that there are no more Spanish frailes to demonize us. But then again, they have been replaced by our present day Filipino clergy that can't seem to refrain from meddling in government affairs... these
Filipino priests and bishops who refuse to see that they are one of the main causes why more and more people are veering away from the Catholic faith. But I digress...
More than the political flavor of the novel, I enjoyed the other elements of the book. There is humor, there is romance, there is suspense and mystery and all these make for a highly enjoyable reading. Rizal wrote in such a detailed fashion that the reader can get a glimpse of what it was like to live in 19th century Philippines. The novel is so full of local color that one gets a feeling of actually living in that era.
Austin Coates further said that the great proof of a writer is the fact that one remembers the characters for the rest of his life. Who doesn't remember Ibarra, Maria Clara, Sisa, Padre Damaso and the rest? Rizal had fleshed out his characters so well that they have become immortal and unforgettable.
The Noli could have been a cookbook too, as pointed out by the award-winning author and historian Ambeth Ocampo in his book Rizal Without The Overcoat. Several chapters in the Noli made references to food and its preparation.
Indeed, re-reading the Noli has given me a newfound appreciation and admiration not only for the book but more so for its author who is arguably the greatest Filipino who ever lived. Some people maintain that the Noli is just fiction and does not reflect reality but it was Dr. Rizal himself who said, "Everything I have written is true".
I invite the readers to do as I did and revisit the Noli and see for themselves why this novel had such a profound effect on the Filipinos of the 19th century and what relevance this book has in our 21st century society.
And while at it, also check out Ambeth Ocampo's Rizal Without The Overcoat. It is a collection of essays that presents Rizal in a totally different manner, away from the idealized image that over-zealous teachers have force-fed us all these years. Mr. Ocampo did a magnificent job with that book. Proof is the National Book Award it got in 1990 from the Manila Critics Circle.
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I've been working full-time and also attending classes in the evenings, so I thought I'd take some time and have a little break this weekend by making this video.
Below are the June 2009 Environmental Planner Licensure Exam performance results.
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